Cold glacial oceans would have inhibited phyllosilicate sedimentation on early Mars

Fairén, Alberto González; Dávila, Alfonso F.; Gago-Duport, L.; Haqq-Misra, Jacob; Gil, Carolina; McKay, Christopher P.; Kasting, James F.

doi:10.1038/ngeo1243

Cited by 79 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 26 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The lack of associated mineralogy does not completely preclude a northern ocean(s), but the data provide key constraints. If an ocean did exist, (a) the spatial and temporal extent of the "ocean" may have been limited, resulting in insufficient water-rock interaction for mineralization to be detectable from orbit (in contrast with southern highland lake deposits); (b) the water-rock interactions may have been kinetically inhibited due to lower temperature [e.g., Fairén et al, 2011]; (c) the liquid water may have had low ionic strength, resulting in limited salt formation as the ocean evaporated/froze; or a combination of these factors.…”

Section: A Missing Mineralogy Record Of a Global Northern Ocean?mentioning

confidence: 99%

The stratigraphy and history of Mars' northern lowlands through mineralogy of impact craters: A comprehensive survey

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The basin‐filling materials of the northern lowlands, which cover approximately one third of Mars' surface, record the long‐term evolution of Mars' geology and climate. The buried stratigraphy was inferred through analyses of impact crater mineralogy, detected using data acquired by the Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars. Examining 1045 impact craters across the northern lowlands, we find widespread olivine and pyroxene and diverse hydrated/hydroxylated minerals, including Fe/Mg smectite, chlorite, prehnite, and hydrated silica. The distribution of mafic minerals is consistent with infilling volcanic materials across the entire lowlands (~1–4 × 107 km3), indicating a significant volume of volatile release by volcanic outgassing. Hydrated/hydroxylated minerals are detected more frequently in large craters, consistent with the scenario that the hydrated minerals are being excavated from deep basement rocks, beneath 1–2 km thick mafic lava flows or volcaniclastic materials. The prevalences of different types of hydrated minerals are similar to statistics from the southern highlands. No evidence of concentrated salt deposits has been found, which would indicate a long‐lived global ocean. We also find significant geographical variations of local mineralogy and stratigraphy in different basins (geological provinces), independent of dust cover. For example, many hydrated and mafic minerals are newly discovered within the polar Scandia region (>60°N), and Chryse Planitia has more mafic mineral detections than other basins, possibly due to a previously unrecognized volcanic source.

show abstract

Section: A Missing Mineralogy Record Of a Global Northern Ocean?mentioning

confidence: 99%

The stratigraphy and history of Mars' northern lowlands through mineralogy of impact craters: A comprehensive survey

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The inferred presence of glaciers along the dichotomy boundary in Aeolis Mensae points to globally cold conditions on Mars during the Hesperian Period, albeit with an active hydrological cycle (Fairén, 2010;Fairén et al, 2011) carrying moisture to the equatorial regions. This could be linked to a putative body of water in the northern plains acting as a source of moisture.…”

Section: Geologic Hydrologic and Climatic Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 97%

Evidence for Hesperian glaciation along the Martian dichotomy boundary

Dávila¹,

Fairén²,

Stokes³

et al. 2013

Geology

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Here we provide geologic and geomorphologic evidence of Hesperian glacial activity along the Martian topographic dichotomy in Aeolis Mensae. Our geologic investigation focuses on a fretted plateau unit with networks of deep, fl at-bottomed valleys, some of which extend from cirque-like scarps. Based on cross-sectional elevation profi les of the valleys and the resemblance to terrestrial analogue features, we propose that these fretted terrains were dissected by outlet glaciers emanating from the dichotomy boundary. The fretted terrains are spatially and temporally linked to deposits with concentrically ridged lobate fronts, providing evidence for ductile fl ow along a canyon fl oor, similar to debris-covered glaciers found on Earth and in other glaciated regions of Mars. We estimate a minimum thickness of 1500 m for the ice cover in that region during the Hesperian, equivalent to recent mid-latitude glaciations in other parts of the dichotomy boundary. Collectively, our observations suggest that glacial activity could have been an important mechanism of modifi cation of the topographic dichotomy boundary since the Hesperian.

show abstract

“…For example, smectite clays formed in surface environments on Mars required warmer temperatures than poorly crystalline aluminosilicates formed in neighboring surface environments (Fairén et al. ; Bishop and Rampe ), thus indicating a change in climate (Bishop et al. ).…”

Section: Objective 1: Interpret the Primary Geologic Processes And Himentioning

confidence: 99%

The potential science and engineering value of samples delivered to Earth by Mars sample return

Beaty¹,

Grady²,

McSween³

et al. 2019

Meteorit & Planetary Scien

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Executive Summary Return of samples from the surface of Mars has been a goal of the international Mars science community for many years. Affirmation by NASA and ESA of the importance of Mars exploration led the agencies to establish the international MSR Objectives and Samples Team (iMOST). The purpose of the team is to re‐evaluate and update the sample‐related science and engineering objectives of a Mars Sample Return (MSR) campaign. The iMOST team has also undertaken to define the measurements and the types of samples that can best address the objectives. Seven objectives have been defined for MSR, traceable through two decades of previously published international priorities. The first two objectives are further divided into sub‐objectives. Within the main part of the report, the importance to science and/or engineering of each objective is described, critical measurements that would address the objectives are specified, and the kinds of samples that would be most likely to carry key information are identified. These seven objectives provide a framework for demonstrating how the first set of returned Martian samples would impact future Martian science and exploration. They also have implications for how analogous investigations might be conducted for samples returned by future missions from other solar system bodies, especially those that may harbor biologically relevant or sensitive material, such as Ocean Worlds (Europa, Enceladus, Titan) and others. Summary of Objectives and Sub‐Objectives for MSR Identified by iMOST This objective is divided into five sub‐objectives that would apply at different landing sites. 1.1 Characterize the essential stratigraphic, sedimentologic, and facies variations of a sequence of Martian sedimentary rocks. 1.2 Understand an ancient Martian hydrothermal system through study of its mineralization products and morphological expression. 1.3 Understand the rocks and minerals representative of a deep subsurface groundwater environment. 1.4 Understand water/rock/atmosphere interactions at the Martian surface and how they have changed with time. 1.5 Determine the petrogenesis of Martian igneous rocks in time and space. This objective has three sub‐objectives: 2.1 Assess and characterize carbon, including possible organic and pre‐biotic chemistry. 2.2 Assay for the presence of biosignatures of past life at sites that hosted habitable environments and could have preserved any biosignatures. 2.3 Assess the possibility that any life forms detected are alive, or were recently alive. Summary of iMOST Findings Several specific findings were identified during the iMOST study. While they are not explicit recommendations, we suggest that they should serve as guidelines for future decision making regarding planning of potential future MSR missions. The samples to be collected by the Mars 2020 (M‐2020) rover will be of sufficient size and quality to address and solve a wide variety of scientific questions. Samples, by definition, are a statistical representation of a larger entity...

show abstract

Cold glacial oceans would have inhibited phyllosilicate sedimentation on early Mars

Cited by 79 publications

References 26 publications

The stratigraphy and history of Mars' northern lowlands through mineralogy of impact craters: A comprehensive survey

The stratigraphy and history of Mars' northern lowlands through mineralogy of impact craters: A comprehensive survey

Evidence for Hesperian glaciation along the Martian dichotomy boundary

The potential science and engineering value of samples delivered to Earth by Mars sample return

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About